Reflections on the Practice
Vivekan
In my last blog entry, I wrote of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill which began on April 20, 2010. I mentioned in the posting, my astonishment at what appeared to be popular media’s reticence in covering the subject.
Park Slopers, Famed for Progressiveness
As the owner of a yoga studio in Park Slope, Brooklyn, and a member of the same community, I am often shocked at what students and neighbors talk about, and what they do not talk about. This neighborhood is famed for being full of many great, progressive, informed, and interesting people (and after 13 years living here, I can say it is).
Dearth of Environmental Discussion
Despite this, there seems to be very little discussion over how spring is arriving 10 days earlier, or how our weather patterns are becoming more and more erratic, or even of the air quality on our streets. Instead, in my people watching, I observe many: rejoicing at temperatures climbing into the 80’s in early April without a thought of what it signifies; complaining that one day it’s shorts weather, whereas the very next day requires a coat without recognizing the implication; commiserating about how their children suffer from allergies and yet not using the collective, famed Park Slope parent contingent in demanding appropriate traffic/bicycle lane changes, and/or diesel emission controls in order to improve air quality for the children and community in general.
Straighten Oneself
This is not a bashing, this is simply noting what I see. Plus, I know that everyone is super busy; and, we are all struggling with our families, jobs, relationships and so much more. So, for me, as a concerned individual, and as one on the path, it comes back to the famed saying of Buddha (from the Dhammapada, as translated by Byrom):
To straighten the crooked
You must first do a harder thing–
Straighten yourself.
Solutions
Therefore, in such a spirit, I offer this post to the interested reader…Because all I can do is straighten myself. In straightening myself, I wish to present constructive solutions to my fellows also interested in straitening themselves.
- Of course, enjoy the great, unseasonably warm weather! But, please do contact your legislators and state your support for effective climate legislation – that does not give loopholes for big polluters.
- When you find yourself inconvenienced and put out by the erratic weather, take a moment and think of your lifestyle. Is it possible to minimize your carbon footprint as a consumer? I’m sure you can! (Also, see above.)
- Evidence points to childhood respiratory/allergy symptoms as being aggravated by auto emissions. We have ground-level ozone that results from car emissions exposed to sunlight, and diesel particulates that are fine enough to get into our lungs and circulatory systems. As a matter of fact, a lot of what we contribute to allergies are actually the result of air quality. 1) Support programs to have real, separate bicycle lanes on our streets (as in the Netherlands); and, 2) Tell your legislators to support the EPA and the Clean Air Act (CAA) — currently the CAA is under attack by Alaska Sen. Murkowski — and, for the EPA to enforce air quality laws. (Also, see above.)
These are just a few things that can be readily done. There are many avenues to straighten oneself as you practice your civic duty for our community, nation, generations to come, and the planet.
On the path,
Vivekan
Photo: Camila Vergara
